President Ho Chi Minh and Bulgarian children during a visit to Bulgaria in 1957 (Photo: BTA)

Unique black-and-white and colour photos reflect the traditional friendship and diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Bulgaria over the past 70 years.
Entitled “70 years of Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development”, the exhibition is jointly held by Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Vietnam.
It reflects the two countries’ long-standing friendship and cooperation in various fields via the photos taken by VNA and BTA reporters about leaders’ mutual visits, Bulgaria’s material and spiritual support for Vietnam throughout history, and the development of their ties in recent years.
In his opening speech, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi said since the VNA and BTA signed the first agreement on information exchange in 2007, they have continually expanded cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Via their news items, the two agencies have been contributing to their countries’ friendship and cooperation, he said, noting that both will continue serving as a bridge linking Vietnamese and Bulgarian businesses as well as the two peoples.

Cutting ribbon to open the exhibition (Source: CPV)

The image of the countries and peoples of Vietnam and Bulgaria, along with their potential and strengths, will be further popularised by the news agencies, he added.
Loi expressed his belief that the photos displayed will help create new momentum for the two countries’ traditional ties.
Addressing the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador Marinela Petkova said the event provides an insight into the history of the two countries’ relations since the first official visit to Bulgaria by then President Ho Chi Minh in August 1957. It offers visitors a visual trip of the countries’ multifaceted ties and the dynamism and diversity of their cooperation, reported VNA.
She also highly valued the Vietnamese Government and people’s efforts to contain COVID-19, noting that this success has made it possible for the exhibition.
The event will last through November 22. Some of its outstanding photos will be shown at the celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties at the Hanoi Opera House on November 17./.

BTA